The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won the mayoral post in the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation (KMC) for the first time since Telangana was formed in 2014. This is a big moment for BJP in Telangana. BJP also became the single largest party in Karimnagar and Nizamabad municipal corporations. Earlier, in united Andhra Pradesh, BJP had controlled major corporations like Warangal in 2002, when T. Rajeshwar Rao won the mayoral post in alliance with Telugu Desham Party (TDP). BJP’s urban presence dates back to 1981 when NSN Reddy became Mayor of Visakhapatnam. The current win in Karimnagar stands out as Telangana's political scene has mostly been led by regional and national rivals. This success is largely due to Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Union Minister of State for Home and Karimnagar MP. His energetic campaign made Karimnagar a BJP stronghold despite tough local politics. However, BJP’s hopes dimmed in Nizamabad, where it became only the single largest party. The Congress stitched a post-poll alliance with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and some Bharat Rashtra Samithi members to take control. The Karimnagar win comes just before the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections expected within six months. BJP sees a chance to grow in Hyderabad, especially in the Malkajgiri parliamentary seat represented by Etala Rajender. Still, BJP’s overall poll performance in Telangana’s recent Municipal Polls-2026 was modest, with a vote share of around 15%. Congress leads with about 40%, creating a 25-point gap. Published - February 16, 2026 02:59 pm IST